Elena Delle Donne

Elena brings up the ball for Deleware (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page= (Graham Hays))

Elena Delle Donne is an American professional basketball player with the Chicago Sky in the Women's National Basketball Association. She was born September 5, 1989 in Wilmington, Delaware. Her parents are Ernie and Joan Dell Donne. Her father played basketball at Columbia. She has two older siblings, making her the youngest of three. Her older brother Gene played college football as a tight end, first at Duke and then Middle Tennessee. After he graduated from Middle Tennessee in 2009, he returned to Delaware to work in their father's company. Her older sister Elizabeth (Lizzie) was born blind and deaf with cerebral palsy and autism. In February 2014, Delle Donne was named a Special Olympics Global Ambassador She also played in the 3rd annual NBA Cares Special Olympics Unified Basketball Game alongside Special Olympics athletes, NBA legends and current WNBA and NBA players, all in honor of her sister Lizzie (one of the most influential people in her life). "Elena has a passion for helping people with special needs." (Ben York). Elena Delle Donne is a leader on and off the basketball court; she is a role model because of her amazing story with her sister and always finding a way to give back.

Elena Delle Donne with Basketball (http://www.redeyechicago.com/sports/redeye-elena-d (Lauren Chval))

Delle Donne is an inspiration to others after she had been inspired by her older sister. "Lizzie inspires me. None of my hardships are even close to the same plane as what she has endured," "And look at what makes her happy. Wind. That's perspective." Elena also explains that her older sister has been a "huge reason why she stays in the U.S. during the offseason instead of playing overseas, and why she chose to play at Delaware instead of more elite programs like Connecticut. Because of Lizzie's disabilities, the sisters can only communicate through touch and smell." "I can't just Skype with her when I'm missing her," Elena Delle Donne wrote. "I can't text her. I can't call her. That's hard. I have to be with her to communicate - she has to literally touch me. Or smell me. I keep her picture as the background on my phone so I can always see her." (Elena Delle Donne). Elena wrote in the Players Tribune , which lets athletes bring a spotlight to the things that inspire them and what means a lot of them, to show others that look up to them, what popular athletes look up to from their words. She inspires others to be like her and be kind hearted and full of love and just accept everyone for who they are. Many look up to Elena for being herself and having such a kind heart towards everyone.

Elena Delle Donne is leader and role model on and off the basketball court to many people all around the world; first with her amazing basketball skills. She was a three- time state champion at Ursuline Academy High School, and was ranked as the number-one overall high school recruit. She was also an All American and WBCA All American. In 2008 she was the National High School player of the year by McDonalds, USA Today and Gatorade. She was the first and only student at Ursuline so far to score 2,000+ points during her high school career and also set the girls' high school national record for consecutive free throws. She made 80 in 2005-2006. Delle Donne received a basketball scholarship from the University of Connecticut. However, in early June 2008, Delle Donne decided to drop out of Connecticut's summer school after just two days. Elena was very close to her family, especially her older sister Lizzie. "She wasn't ready to leave her family and go off on her own without her sister." (Graham Hays). On August 16, 2008, Delle Donne announced she would not accept the basketball scholarship due to burnout, and instead would decide to enroll at the University of Delaware and join their volleyball team as a walk-on. The 2008 Delaware Blue Hens finished their season with a record of 19-16. Delle Donne did not continue on the volleyball team in 2009, but joined the basketball team. She decided to be a red shirt freshman on the basketball team 2009-2010 season. "Delle Donne had a very productive freshman season. She averaged 26.7 points per game, the third-highest of all Division I women's basketball players. She scored 54 points in a loss against James Madison on February 18, 2010, which was the highest single-game point total by any Division I female basketball player that season." (ESPN Shaped by her Siblings).

During Delle Donne's sophomore basketball season she began to develop flu- like symptoms. After many tests, the doctors finally diagnosed her with Lyme disease. She struggled the rest of the season. As a junior, Delle Donne led the nation in scoring, finishing the season with an average of 28.1 points per game. On February 16, 2012, Delle Donne scored 42 points in a win making that her 2,000 point for the season. After her college career, Delle Donne was selected second overall in the 2013 WNBA draft by the Chicago Sky. Although it seems like Elena spends most of her time on the court, she always finds a way to give all of her time to her source of love and inspiration; her older sister Lizzie. "Her relationship with Lizzie is huge, it's so close. It's a big reason why Elena is such a homebody, who came home from UConn because she craves to be around Lizzie and to experience Lizzie grabbing and sniffing her and just to spend quality time with her." (Graham Hays). Elena is a role model by her amazing work that she does with her sister and just always being there for her and making time just for her even in her busy, full of traveling schedule.

Elena with siblings (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page= (Graham Hays))

Elena Delle Donne is a kind hearted person and always finds a way to give back. She uses her abilities and platform as an athlete to give the best for Lizzie, along with other special needs people. She wants to give them the best life she can and let help them accomplish the things they dream of accomplishing, although they cannot do them by themselves. "You have to get people with special needs out in the community. Don't hide them; show them how incredible they are and what an asset to society they are." (Elena Delle Donne). She says things that are kind hearted that nobody else would think to say. She wants people to know how amazing disabled people too, can be.

Each morning Elena would get up and help Lizzie in her normal morning routine. She and her mom get Lizzie out of bed, feed her, and give her the medication she needs. All the same as our morning routines, but Lizzie can't do anything on her own. There, Elena comes in and always is helping. Elena says "It's amazing what you will do for love." Lizzie taught Elena that communication is so much more than words. "It's changed how I communicate with those that I'm closest to. Language is important but actions - doing, touching - is above all. Giving someone a huge hug is sometimes way more effective than saying anything." (Elena). Elena tries to teach others about people with special needs and give back so special needs people will be treated the same as any other person. "Growing up watching Lizzie struggle day to day has really put my life into perspective. I have deep appreciation for my God given abilities and am committed to making the most of every opportunity and using my platform as an athlete to make an impact on Lizzie and many others." (Elena).Elena Delle Donne is a role model in everything she does. She inspires many others in her physical game of basketball and her hard working and always putting in the extra work to be the best. People look up to her to and someday hope to play like her and work as hard as she does and accomplish as many things as she has. People look up to her and all of her achievements on the court. Off the court she is an even more inspiring person. Even more people look up to her. She is a kind hearted leader. She wants to give back for her community and to everyone else. She wants to give people with special needs the best life they can have. She helps her autistic, blind; deaf with cerebral palsy sister along with many other special needs people. All through her fame she still manages to give the best and spend the most of her time with Lizzie. She is truly an inspiring person and loves what she does. Elena is blessed with many talents unlike her older sister, but her most important accomplishment was "helping Lizzie the most she can." (Elena.) Elena loves helping others and accomplishing the things she does. She enjoys her fame as one of the best women basketball players but her favorite thing is coming home to Lizzie and just being with her and helping her and loving her. Elena is truly an inspiring person and never fails to amaze everyone no matter where she is.